Nonprofits may expand tenant services

Tenants in the Milwaukee and Green Bay areas may get more resources to draw from. Brenda Konkel, who directs the Tenant Resource Center, has been advising nonprofits in those cities in setting up a similar service as her Madison-based office.

If the Milwaukee and Green Bay groups could handle the most common issues in their areas, Konkel says it would ease the burden on their state hotline. Sixty percent of calls to the TRC’s hotline involve evictions, repairs, security deposits and breaking a lease.

The Center has faced major budget cuts in recent years but Konkel says thankfully volunteers have stepped up recently.

The hotline 1-877-238-RENT is first come first served. If a major backlog occurs Madison and Dane County calls will become a priority as the group receives funding from the city and county.